Most holidaymakers are desperate to avoid them this summer – or get through them as soon as possible. But airports are the highlight of the trip for one quirky couple.
Alan and Agnes Forbes have travelled all over the world and visited nearly 1,400 between them.
So far this year, they have called in at nearly 50 – and despite the travel chaos leaving so many others stood at luggage carousels for hours or snoozing in terminals, they have only had a flight disrupted once.
They even visited three airports on their wedding day – and although they prefer small airports, they think there’s no such thing as a bad one.
Alan, 62, a retired airline manager, said: “We love it. It allows us to visit places no one has ever even thought to go to. We have been absolutely blown away by how beautiful and memorable those places are.”
Agnes, 44, added: “We enjoy the buzz that going somewhere new always gives us. That is ultimately what drives this.”
Alan began his quest alone, before meeting Agnes, and now the Londoners explore new sites together.
He said: “I started ticking off airports in 1980. I’ve been around the world twice. Agnes joined me in 2012.
“People may love the hustle and bustle of big airports but me and Agnes have had our best moments going to smaller ones. They have a much greater personality.
“I’ve visited 955 airports and Agnes 442. We hope to reach 1,000 and 500. I’ve said I will retire then – but Agnes doesn’t believe me!”
Agnes said: “I loved it when Alan told me he was collecting airports. I never for one second hesitated to join him in his hobby. We are very lucky we share the same passion for travel.”
The furthest they have travelled is the remote Cook Islands in the South Pacific, when they touched down at Rarotonga International.
And Alan’s wackiest airport is Queen Tamar in Mestia, Georgia.
He said: “The terminal looks like it’s been designed by someone on acid and on both sides of the runway there are cows just wandering about.”
The adventurers married at The Hambrough Hotel, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, in outfits with matching globe motifs.
Agnes said: “After a quick celebration drink with our nine guests, we flew to Goodwood to pick up a friend, made a fuel stop at Solent Airport and flew to Gloucestershire Airport for our wedding night in Tewkesbury.”
Alan was lucky enough to fly for free when he worked as an airline operations manager for 14 years. After that, they ran a tour business and both got free travel. Since giving up work they have had free time to search for bargain flights – and managed to fly to Poland in December for £1.79.
They advise travellers to give themselves plenty of time to enjoy the airport experience. Alan said: “We always say, contrary to opinion, there is no such thing as a bad airport.
“The most stops in one flight was in Norway, where we did six and only changed planes twice. We did Kirkenes to Alta to Vadso to Batsfjord to Mehmann to Honningsvag and finally to Hammerfest. We did 36 airports in nine days.
“We flew from Oradea in Romania via Bergamo to Bucharest to add an airport rather than take the train. And we spent half a day in Pristina, Kosovo, to bag another airport.”
He adds: “We’ve had some funny moments. Once, we arrived unplanned in Tijuana, having crossed the border from San Diego. With no flight booked, 30 minutes later we were on a plane to Culiacan – which we later learned is one of the major drug cities in Mexico.”
